Antimicrobial Awareness Week, Nov. 18–24, serves as a global call to action to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — a growing public health concern that occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites stop responding to the drugs designed to be effective against them. 

This resistance makes infections harder to treat and increases the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

Adi Shah, M.B.B.S., an infectious disease specialist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, says AMR frequently happens when microorganisms like bacteria and viruses are exposed to various and repeated episodes of antimicrobial use.

To combat AMR, Mayo Clinic has an antimicrobial stewardship team that leads the effort to promote the careful and correct use of infection-fighting medications. The team works across all three Mayo Clinic campuses in Minnesota, Florida, Arizona, and all Mayo Clinic Health Systems locations.

Among the team's initiatives is an outpatient program that works with pharmacists, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to improve how antimicrobial medicines are used.

"Our efforts have focused both on unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions overall and unnecessarily long durations of therapy," says Dan Ilges, Pharm.D., the clinical pharmacist lead for ambulatory antimicrobial stewardship efforts at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

This year's theme for Antimicrobial Awareness Week is "Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance Takes All of Us."

Experts underscore that patients play a critical role in the fight. Open communication with healthcare teams is essential. 

"We know that for many germs, exposure to antibiotics and antifungals can increase the risk of resistance developing and resistant germs are more difficult to treat," says Sara Ausman, Pharm.D., the clinical pharmacist lead for antimicrobial stewardship efforts at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

"Antibiotics are useful tools but aren't always the best treatment option." 

Dr. Ausman notes that for colds, your healthcare team will likely recommend over-the-counter remedies to address symptoms instead of antibiotics.

Additionally, Dr. Ausman emphasizes that if you are prescribed an antibiotic, you should ask about the shortest prescription length that is needed to treat your infection, as well as whether antibiotics are the right choice for your symptoms. She shares that it is important not to save any antibiotic doses for later and to dispose of any leftovers properly at a designated drug disposal site. 

"Antibiotics are intended for the treatment of bacterial infections, but should be used only when necessary," says Dr. Ausman. 

Beyond appropriate antibiotic use, prevention is a powerful tool. Experts emphasize that a few simple, everyday practices help avoid contracting infections:

• Wash your hands. Properly washing your hands removes germs to prevent infection of yourself and those around you.
• Vaccination is an important preventative step to improving public health and preventing the need for antimicrobials.

If you have unused medication, whether antimicrobials, opioids or something else, you can find a safe disposal site here. 

Related Articles